Business plans by country differ more than most founders expect. The structure is familiar everywhere: what you sell, who buys it, what it costs and when it pays. But the tax lines, the legal form, the lender’s habits and even the language of the document change the moment you cross a border.
A plan that works for a London bank can fall flat in Munich. A plan built for a Paris honour loan committee won’t match what a Dutch starter lender wants to see. Pick your country below and you’ll get a guide written for that market, with verified tax rates, the right registries and the funding bodies founders actually use.
Table of Contents
Why business plans by country need local detail
Lenders and investors read plans quickly. They look for signs that you understand their market, and the fastest sign is whether your numbers match local reality. Five things change most from one country to the next.
1. Tax lines in the forecast
Corporate tax ranges from 12.5% on Irish trading income to roughly 30% on average in Germany once trade tax is added. Some countries have reduced rates for small or new companies: Spain charges newly created companies 15% in their first two profitable tax periods, and Poland charges 9% to small and starting taxpayers. A forecast that uses the wrong rate tells the reader you haven’t checked.
2. Legal form and registration
The UK has Companies House, Ireland the CRO, the Netherlands the KVK and Sweden Bolagsverket. Germany splits trade registration (the Gewerbeamt) from the commercial register. Portugal can set up a company in one visit through Empresa na Hora. Each has its own steps and timings, and your plan’s launch timeline should reflect them.
3. What lenders expect to see
German banks look for three specific financial plans. French banks want a balanced plan de financement and a prévisionnel. In Belgium, founding a BV, NV or cooperative legally requires a financial plan that goes to the notary. In Switzerland, federal guidance asks you to keep facts and estimates clearly apart. Same goal, different format.
4. Public funding
Almost every country has a state lender, guarantee scheme or grant body, and they work differently. In Germany, KfW loans go through your own bank. In France, interest-free honour loans boost your personal contribution. In Ireland, local and export-focused businesses go to different agencies. Your plan should name the route you’re using.
5. Language and local currency
Write in the language your reader works in. German banks prefer German, French honour loan committees work in French and Polish grant programmes use Polish forms. Use the local currency throughout: pounds in the UK, francs in Switzerland, krona in Sweden, złoty in Poland and euro across most of the EU.
What every guide in our business plans by country series covers
Each country guide follows the same pattern, so you can compare markets easily if you’re still deciding where to launch.
- A key facts box: currency, standard VAT rate, corporate tax rate, company registry and main support body.
- What lenders and investors expect: the sections, financial tables and tone that local readers look for.
- Legal forms: the main structures, from sole trader to limited company, with liability and tax differences.
- Registration steps: the order of things, from notary to registry to tax office.
- Tax points: the VAT, corporate tax and payroll lines your forecast must include.
- Funding routes: state lenders, guarantees, grants and investors.
- Local costs, language and cities: where costs run high, which language to write in and links to city guides.
- Sample plans you can adapt: four to six examples suited to that market.
How we check the facts in our business plans by country guides
Every tax rate, agency and programme in these guides was checked against an official source, such as a tax authority, a government business portal or the agency itself, and each guide links to those sources. Where a figure varies, such as German trade tax or Swiss cantonal tax, we say so rather than quoting a single number. Rules change, so always confirm the current figure with the official page or a local accountant before you submit your plan.
Quick comparison: 12 European markets
A snapshot of the headline figures each country guide covers. Rates change, so each guide links to the official source.
| Country | Currency | Standard VAT | Corporate tax headline | Main support body |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | GBP | 20% | 25% main rate, 19% small profits | Start Up Loans |
| Ireland | EUR | 23% | 12.5% on trading income | LEOs, Enterprise Ireland |
| Germany | EUR | 19% | 15% plus surcharge and municipal trade tax | KfW |
| France | EUR | 20% | 25%, 15% on first €42,500 for SMEs | Bpifrance |
| Netherlands | EUR | 21% | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | RVO, Qredits |
| Spain | EUR | 21% | 25%, 15% for new companies | ENISA |
| Portugal | EUR | 23% (mainland) | 19% in 2026, 15% SME band | IAPMEI |
| Italy | EUR | 22% | IRES 24% plus regional IRAP | Invitalia |
| Belgium | EUR | 21% | 25%, 20% on first €100,000 for SMEs | VLAIO, hub.brussels, Wallonie Entreprendre |
| Sweden | SEK | 25% | 20.6% | Almi |
| Switzerland | CHF | 8.1% | Varies by canton and commune | Cantonal agencies, Innosuisse |
| Poland | PLN | 23% | 19%, 9% for small and new taxpayers | PARP, BGK |
EU VAT rates are listed on the European Commission’s Your Europe portal. UK rates are on GOV.UK, and Swiss rates with the Federal Tax Administration.
UK and Ireland
The UK guide covers sole trader vs Ltd, Companies House, VAT and the Start Up Loans scheme, which needs a business plan and cash flow forecast. The Ireland guide explains when to approach your Local Enterprise Office and when Enterprise Ireland is the better fit, plus 12.5% corporation tax and Microfinance Ireland.
UK city guides
London rents aren’t Leeds rents. Our city guides add local costs and competitors:
Irish city guides
Western and Northern Europe
- Germany: the Hausbank route to KfW, GmbH vs UG and why your town’s trade tax matters.
- France: SAS, SARL or micro-entrepreneur, the INPI guichet unique and honour loans.
- Netherlands: the ondernemingsplan, eenmanszaak vs BV and the 2026 tax changes.
- Belgium: the legally required financial plan and three regional support systems.
- Switzerland: cantonal registers, EasyGov and cantonal tax differences.
- Sweden: the affärsplan, aktiebolag share capital and Almi.
Southern and Central Europe
- Spain: autónomo vs SL, the 15% new company rate and ENISA.
- Portugal: Empresa na Hora, IRC falling to 17% by 2028 and IAPMEI.
- Italy: SRL vs SRLS, IRES and IRAP, and Invitalia’s start-up grants.
- Poland: JDG vs sp. z o.o., the 9% small CIT rate and BGK guarantees.
European city guides
Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Milan, Brussels and Stockholm each have a local guide:
North America, Australia, the Middle East and Africa
Outside Europe, the same principle applies: local tax, local lenders, local currency.
- USA and Canada, for founders working with American and Canadian banks and investors.
- Australia, for plans in Australian dollars.
- UAE, for free zone and mainland set-ups.
- South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, with local plan libraries.
International city guides
Starting a business in a new country? Your plan supports the visa
If you’re moving abroad to start a business, your plan does two jobs. It persuades lenders, and it supports an immigration application. Visa reviewers look for viability, your role in the business and enough funding to survive the first years.
Our visa business plan hub compares the main routes. Each visa business plan guide covers what that route’s reviewers look for:
- UK Innovator Founder visa
- US E-2 visa
- Canada Start-up Visa
- Portugal D2 visa
- Netherlands startup visa
- Germany self-employment visa
- Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
- Spain entrepreneur visa
How to use these guides
- Read your country guide for lender expectations, legal forms and tax points.
- Check your city guide for local costs and competitors, if one exists.
- Pick a sample plan in your sector from our business plan examples to see the structure in action.
- Build your numbers with our guide to financial projections for a business plan, using local tax rates and costs.
- Write it up with the business plan template or our step-by-step guide on how to write a business plan.
It’s normal to feel unsure when the forms are in another language and the tax system is new. Take it one country guide at a time. Most of what lenders want is the same everywhere; the guides show you the local parts.
Can one plan work for several countries?
This is one of the most common questions we get about business plans by country.
Partly. Your market analysis, product description and team section can travel. The financial section can’t. If you’re comparing locations, build a separate forecast for each country with its own tax rates, wage costs and currency, then compare break-even points side by side.
That comparison is often the most useful page in the plan. A founder weighing Lisbon against Amsterdam can see in one table how rent, wages and corporate tax change the month the business turns a profit.
Build country-specific business plans by country in minutes
The Business Plan Generator builds a complete plan in your local currency, with 1 to 5 year projections. Tell it where you’re starting and what you sell, then adapt the tax and cost lines using your country guide. A plan is a one-off payment, and the pricing page shows the current price and the optional add-ons.
Business Plans by Country FAQs
Why do business plans differ by country?
The structure is similar everywhere, but tax rates, legal forms, registration steps, lender expectations, funding bodies, language and currency all change. Lenders trust plans that reflect their local rules.
Which language should my business plan be in?
The language your reader works in. German banks prefer German, French banks French and Polish programmes Polish. English works well with international investors and in the UK and Ireland.
Can I use one business plan for several countries?
You can reuse the market, product and team sections, but build a separate financial forecast for each country with local tax rates, costs and currency.
Do I need a different plan for a visa application?
Usually you adapt the same plan. Visa reviewers focus on viability, your role, job creation and funding. Our visa business plan guides explain what each route looks for.
Are the tax rates in these guides up to date?
Each country guide was checked against official sources for 2026 and links to them. Rates change, so confirm with the official page or a local accountant before you submit.